Engine-starter.



w. DLEVERLY.

ENGINE STARTER. APPLlCATION FIL-ED AUG. l9. I913.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Atto m eys rr aari' is 5.x."

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 19, 1913. SeriaI No. 785,538.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM D. EVER Y, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sanger, in the county of Benton and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Engine-Starter, of which the following is a specification. i

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a crank adapted to be employed for starting engines of the internal combustion type.

One object of the invention is to provide novel means for operatively connecting the crank with the engine shaft.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby, should the engine back-fire, the handle will be automatically detached from the remaining portions of the crank.

It is within thescope of the invention to improve generally and to enhance the utility of, devices of that type to which the present invention appcrtains.

With the above and other objects-in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood .that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of parts claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 shows the invention in elevation; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionthrough the drum portion of the device; Fig. at is a perspective showing the spring constrained shoe and attendant parts; Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the lever portions of the structure at right angles to each other, as in the case of a back fire, parts being broken away; Fig. 6 is a fragmental perspective showing a portion of the shoe-carrying spring.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the shaft of an internal combustion engine, the shaft 1 including a reduced extension 2 terminating in a threaded tip 3 carrying a washer 4 and a nut 5. A drum 6 is shown and includes a sleeve 7 mounted to rotate on the shaft 1.

Fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the extension 2 of the shaft 1 is a primary lever 8. Disposed between the primary lever 8 and the open side of the drum 6 is a closure plate 9. Studs 10 and 11 project from the primary lever 8 through the closure plate 9 and enter the drum 6.

Disposed within thecontour of the drum 6 and keyed as indicated at 12 to the engine shaft 1 is a ratchet wheel 14, adapted to be engaged by a pawl 15 which is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the stud 11. To one end of the pawl 15 links 16 are pivoted, the links 16 being pivoted to a shoe 17 which is adapted to engage the periphery of the drum 6. g The shoe 17 is securedto one end of a springstrip 18 and the other end of the spring strip, indicated at 19 is free. The spring strip 18 is locatedv within the periphery of thedrum 6 and isputunder ten-,

sion before it isinserted into the drum, so that the strip will exercise a friction drag on the drum. An ear 20 is secured to the strip 18v and one end of a retractile spring 21 is secured to the ear, the other end of the spring being connected with the stud 10 which constitutes a partof the primary lever 8. The primary lever 8 terminates at its free end in an enlarged head 22 having a circular opening 23., There is a notch 23 in one edge of the head 22, the notch leading into the circular opening 23. The width of the notch'23 is less than the diameter of the circular opening 23.

The invention further includes a secondary lever 24 from which projects .a headed pin 25. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, this pin 25 is .of unequal transverse dimensions. The major transverse dimension of the pin approximates the diameter of the opening 23, .the'minor transverse dimension of the pin being slightly less than the width of the notch or slot 23 For a specific delineation of this portion of the pin, note the point at which the reference character 26 is applied in Fig". 5. At its outer end, the secondary lever 24 isequipped with a handle 27 adapted to be engaged by the hand of. the operator. At its-inner end, the-secondary lever 24 terminates in a socket 28 in which a spring pressed pawl 29 is mounted for movement. A pin 30 is inserted through the Patented July 6, 1915.

pawl 29 and is mounted to move in longitudinal slots 31 formed in the socket 28. The movement of the inner end of the secondary lever 24, in one direction, is limited The latch 34 includes a finger 36 extended longitudinally of the primary lever 8 and located between lugs 37 constituting a part of a yoke 38 secured transversely to the primary lever 8. Obviously, the lugs 37 may be formed directly upon the lever 8. This minor change is a mechanical detail unworthy of illustration and readily understood by any skilled mechanic. A bolt 39 is mounted in the lugs 37 and extends through the finger 36 of the latch 34, the bolts being provided at one end with a nut 40 which, engaging one lu'g 37, holds the bolt in place. A compression spring 41 surrounds the bolt 39 and bears against thefinger 36 of the latch 34. The degree of compression in the spring 41 may be regulated by an adjusting nut 42 which is threaded onto the bolt 39.

Presupposing that the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the operation of the device is as follows :-If the handle 27 is moved in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, thejpin 25 will not move out of the slot 23 because the major transverse dimension of the pin is greater than the width of the slot and stands transversely of the slot. The pin 25 therefore acts as a fulcrum, and the inner end of the pawl 29 remains interlocked, as shown at '35, with the latch 34, the spring 41 preventing the finger 36 of the latch from'moving to an extent sufiicient to break the interlocked engagement between the pawl 29 and the latch 34, as shown at 35. Thus, the lever 8 will be swung in the direction of the arrow A, the lever 8 rotating on the extension 2 of the engine shaft 1. When the lever 8swingsin the direction of the arrow A, thestud 11 which constitutes a part of the lever will carry with it the pawl 15. Through the medium of the spring strip 18 (which exerts a friction drag), the shoe 17 and the links 16, the pawl 15 will be tilted so that it will interlock with the ratchet wheel 14. The lever 8 and attendant parts are thus coupled up operatively withthe engine shaft 1, and the same will be rotated in the direction of thejarrow A to ,efi'ect the starting of the en.- gine. e

So soon as'the engine is in operation and the shaft 1 is rotated, the ratchet wheel 14 will click over the pawl 15. When the hand ofthe operator is released from the handle 27, thespring 21 will tilt the lever 8 on the extension 20f the engine shaft 1 to an extent sufiicient to disengage the pawl 15 from the ratchet wheel 14. 1

Should the engine back-fire during the cranking operation, the lever 8, under such circumstances, moving in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 1, the spring 41 will yield to an extent sufficient to permit interlocking engagement between the pawl 29 and the latch 34 to be broken. Then, in the first instance, the secondary lever 24 will stand crosswise of the primary lever 8 as shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the minor transverse dimension of the headed pin 25 will be dis-- posed transversely of the'notch 23, as shown in Fig. 5. As the primary lever 8 continues to. move in the direction of'the arrow B, the pin 25 will pass out through the notch or slot 23, and thus the secondary lever 24 will be. detached from the primary lever and will remain in the hand of the operator.

The compressive efi'ort of the spring 41 may be adjusted by rotating the adjusting nut '40 on the bolt 39. The function of the stop "32 is to prevent the inner end of the secondary lever 24 from swinging too far in the direction of the arrow A afterthe interlocking parts 35 of the pawl 29 and the latch 34 have been disposed, in engagement as shown in Fig. 1. 3

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is :-1 A

1. In an engine starter, a shaft; a drum journaled thereon; a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft and located within the drum; a lever mounted to swing on the shaft; a pawl pivoted to the lever and adapted to engage the ratchet wheel; a spring'strip within the drum and frictionally engaged therewith, one end of the strip being free and independent of the pawl and bearing upon the drum; a link forming a pivotal connection between one end of the pawl and the other end of the spring strip; and a retractile spring connectingthe lever with the spring strip at a point. spaced from the free endfof the spring strip.

2. In an engine starter, a primary lever provided with an opening and with a reduced slot communicating with the opening; a secondary lever comprising a pin of unequal transverse dimension, the major transverse dimension of the pin being, greater than the width of the slot and the minor transversedimension of the pin being less thanthe width of the slot, whereby the pin may move through the slot when the levers stand at an angle; and releasable means for holding the levers in approximate alinement.

3. In an engine starter, a primary lever; shaft-engaging means carried by the primary lever; a secondary lever having a handle; a single means for connecting the secondary lever pivotally with the primary lever only, said means being automatically detachable from one lever along With the my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature other lever, When the levers stand at an in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

angle to each other thereby to permit a complete separation of the levers; and automati- WILLIAM EVERLY' cally releasable latch mechanism connecting Witnesses: the levers against relatlve pivotal movement. G. O. HUGHES, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as J. H. HUGHES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

